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2016 Postmortem

ShadowLiberal

(2,237 posts)

16. Just getting media attention is enough to be declared a public figure

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #11)

Sun Mar 4, 2012, 01:05 AM

Mar 2012

A gay man saved President Ford's life, then had his life ruined by the media when they correctly reported that he was gay. His family disowned him for a while after learning he was gay, even President Ford snubbed him once the story came out. The guy sued the paper that first reported he was gay, but the court ruled he had no case because by choosing to save the president he chose to make himself a public figure, which makes it almost impossible to sue for slander.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Sipple

The above is a link to his wiki bio about the story.

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18 replies

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Sandra Fluke needs to sue LardAss for every penny he has... [View all] Rosco T. Mar 2012 OP

Truly! I do wonder WHY more people on our side aren't suing. calimary Mar 2012 #1

I want that LardAss Canker on the ass of humanity.. Rosco T. Mar 2012 #2

My guess is that you are not a lawyer. onenote Mar 2012 #12

Insurance? TexasTowelie Mar 2012 #17

There is the problem of NYTvs Sullivan Loudmxr Mar 2012 #3

Sullivan was an elected sheriff as I recall. How Raven Mar 2012 #8

I agree - Fluke isn't a public figure. She is merely a citizen The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #11

actually she almost certainly is a "limited purpose public figure" under SCOTUS precedent onenote Mar 2012 #13

Oh, I don't think she will sue, or even that she necessarily should. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #14

Just getting media attention is enough to be declared a public figure ShadowLiberal Mar 2012 #16

That was a different situation. Sipple didn't sue for slander The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #18

Where's Gloria Allred?? I'm surprised that some high-profile attorney... polichick Mar 2012 #4

and be sure to make the donation in Limbaugh's name peace frog Mar 2012 #5

His sponsors need to suffer financially too. LiberalFighter Mar 2012 #6

It's a perfect slander case. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #7

Mike Papantonio says it's not. GoCubsGo Mar 2012 #9

This time I disagree with Papantonio. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #10

I agree this is absolutely slander per se. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2012 #15